Cam operated swinging brush for bottle washing machines



Nov. 3, 1931. G. J. MEYER ET AL 1,830,068

CAM OPERATED SWINGING BRUSH FOR BOTTLE WASHING MACHINES Filed NOV. 17,1927 them between rotary brushes which areyield- Patented Nov. 3, 1931UNITED STATES JPATEN'HI" OFFICE GEORGE J. MEYER AND OTTO DBEHER, OFMILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO GEO. J'. MEYER MANUFACTURING COMPANY,01' MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A. COB- v rommon or wrsconsm 0AM OPERATEDSWINGING BRUSH FOR BOTTLE WASHING- MACHINES Application filed November17, 1927. Serial No. 233,926.

The invention, relates to bottle washing machines of the typeexemplified in Letters Patent No. 1,429,960, issued to George J. Meyer,September 26, 1922, wherein bottles are lifted from an intermittentlymoving conveyor and when so lifted are carried between rotary brushesfor brushing them on the, outside.

An object of the invention is to effect the cleaning of bottles and thelike by passing ingly mounted for movement apart to adapt themselves tochanges in the diameter of the bottles, suitable means being provided,other than the bottles, for determining the varying separation of thebrushes while the bottles or other objects to be cleaned are passedbetween the brushes.

Another object of the invention is to provide cam-operatedbrush-separating means including a templet member having, a contourgenerally similar to that of the bottles or other objects to be brushed,said templet.

member being 'movable simultaneously with the bottles for predeterminingthe extent of separation of the brushes in accordance with the varyingdiameter of the bottles.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter setforth and more particularly defined by the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion ofa bottle 'washing machine showing the cam-operated swinging outsidebrushes of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse elevation of the brushing mechanism, parts beingbroken away and parts being shown in section; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation through the outside brushing mechanism,showing the bottle lifting mechanism holding one bottle between thebrushes and another with its hottom-against one of the brushes.

In these drawings, 10 indicates the frame of a bottle washing machinewhich may be such asthat shown in the Meyer patent above noted, and 11represents the rows of bottle .holders of the intermittently movingbottle conveyor thereof by the intermittent movements of which the rowsof bottles are successively brought into position to be oper- -tion 12thereof.

ated upon by exterior .washing mechanism,

constituting this invention and to be described in detail, and byinterior Washing and rinsing mechanism represented by a por- The bottles13 travel through the machine from left to'right as viewed in Fig. 1 andreach the part of the machine shown to receive an external cleaningpreliminary to their internal cleaning.

As in the patent referred to above, there is provided a verticallyreciprocating bottlelifting mechanism consisting of rotating up- I rightspindles 14 to enter the mouths of bottles, in one row of bottle holdersand lift these.

bottles between a pair of oppositely rotating brushes 15 while turningthem and reciprocating them between the brushes to expose all parts ofthe outer surface of the bottles to the cleaning action of the brushes,while spray pipes 16 supply water for the cleaning operation.

A brush-supporting frame consisting of I arms 17 mounted on a shaft 18is pivotally supported in the main frame 10 by said shaft fitting inbearings 19, and is counterbalanced by weights 20 mounted on therearwardly-directed extension at one end of said shaft. On the other endof the shaft is j ournalled a driving pulley 21 for driving the brushes.Upon the horizontally extending arms 17 is a housing 22 covering thebrushes and confining the water spray and this housing is adjustable onthe arms 17, to positionthe brushes with respect to the bottle liftingmechanism, by

cillate in bearings at opposite ends of the housing. the pipes beingprovided with hose connections 28, through which water is supplied forthe forcible sprays directed against the bottles. Fixed on these spraypipes at both ends of the housing are brush hangers 29 in the form ofbell-crank levers having the brushes 15 j ournalled in their longerdepending arms and having intermeshing gear segments 30 on their shorterarms, so that the brushes move in unison toward or away from thevertical central plane between them in which the bottle-liftingmechanism operates.

Loosely mounted on the ends of the s ray pipes 16 are brush-drivingsleeves 31 each aving a chain and sprocket connection 32 with the brush15 therebeneath. The sleeves are meshed together with intermeshing gears33 thereon so as to turn the brushes at the same speed but in oppositedirections, as indicated by arrows, and receive their drive from thedrive pulley by one of them having a chain and sprocket connection 34therewith.

It will be noted that although the weight of the brushes tends to causethem to swing toward each other, this tendency is opposed by thedirection of the drive thereon, for the influence of the drive is tocause the brushes to spread apart. It is the purpose of the presentinvention, however, to positively effect the variable separation ofthese brushes in accordance with the varying diameter of the bottlesinserted between the brushes, to thereby avoid undue deflection of thebrush bristles with the result that such bristles are more effective intheir action and the life of the brushes is materially increased. In thepresent instance, this positive but varying separation of the brushes isaccomplished by a reciprocatory cam templet 45 corresponding generallyto the contour of the bottles and engageable at opposite side edges withrollers 46 carried on laterally-extending projections 47 formed at thelower depending arms of the brush-carrying bell-crank levers 29. Thetemplet 45 is carried on an upstanding rod 48 which is detachablysecured at its lower end within a socket 49 in an end extension of themiter-gear cross-head 40 on which the rotating upright spindles 14 aresupported,

the cross-head 40 being slidably mounted for vertical movement onvertical guide bars 50. The spindle-carrying cross-head 40 is raisedperiodically in any suitable manner, such as y means of an oscillatoryrocker arm 51, having its free end connected to the crosshead by a link52, the rocker arm being mounted on a shaft 53 disposed on a fixed axis.

In order thatthe brushes, may be quickly removed and replaced, they arejournalled in removable bearing bushings 35 suitably mounted in thebell-crank levers against relative rotation. The axial removal of thebushings exposes slots 39 in the ends of the bellcrank levers which areof sufficient width to permit the brush trunnions to pass therethrough,thereby avoiding an extensive dismantling operation.

It is found desirable to mount the brushes 15 above the level of travelof the bottoms 1,sao,oas

tween the brushes to have their bottom sur-.

faces brusiized by the left-hand brush of Fig. 1, for such dirt as maybe spattered by that brush will not fall upon bottles that have beencleaned.

To accomplish the lifting of bottles for the bottom cleaning, themiter-gear crosshead 40 which is raised periodically for lifting a rowof bottles between the brushes, as hereinbefore described, has mountedthereon clamp members 41 carrying upstanding pins 42 in position toenter the bottles of the said row, and these pins are of such lengththat they engage the bottoms of the bottles and lift them so that theybear against the brush, as shown in Fig. 3. Inasmuch as the bottles arelifted by means engaging their bottoms instead of their necks, noadjustment is required when shorter bottles are used.

The improvements constituting the present invention make for a thoroughcleaning of the outside of the bottles with a minimum of wear andconsumption of power, since the brush bristles while engaging thebottles are deflected no more than is necessary. When bottles ofdifferent diameter or contour are to be cleaned, it is only necessary toremove the templet rod from its socket in the cross-head and substituteanother one having a cam contour to correspond with the bottles.

The brushing means of this invention can also be used for the cleaningof cans, jars, and other like receptacles.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In abottle'washing machine having a bottle conveyor. the combinationof a reciprocable bottle-lifter for engaging a bottle and lifting itfrom the conveyor, a pair of brushes between which the bottle is movedby the bottle-lifter, means for supporting the brushes, and meanscoupled with the bottlelifter for separating the brushes a variabledistance to correspond with the varying diameter of the bottle as it ispassed between the brushes.

2. In a bottle washing machine having a bottle conveyor, the combinationof bottlelifting means for engaging and lifting a bottle from theconveyor, rotatable brushes between which 'the bottle is moved by thebottle-lifting means, displaceable supports for the brushes permittingthem to move apart, and cam means acting on said displaceable supportsfor separating the brushes a variable distance to correspond with thevarying diameter of the bottle as it is passed between the brushes.

3. In a bottle Washing machine, the combination of a air of brushes,means for moving a bottle etween the brushes, yielding means supportingthe brushes for permitting their variable separation during the passageof the bottle'therebetween, and means coupled with the bottle-movingmeans acting on said brush-supporting means for separating the brushes avariable distance to correspond with the varying diameter of the bottleas it is passed between the brushes.

4. In a bottle washing machine, the combination of a pair of brushes,means for moving a bottle between the brushes. yielding means supportingthe brushes for permitting their variable separation during the passageof the bottle therebetween, and a reciprocable cam movablesimultaneously with the bottle-moving means and acting upon saidyielding brush-supporting means for urging said brushes apart a variabledistance to correspond with the varying diameter of the bottle as it is,passed between the brushes.

5. In a bottle washing machine having a bottle conveyor, the combinationof means for lifting a bottle from the conveyor, ro-

tatable brushes between which the bottle is passed by the bottle-liftingmeans, levers by means of which the brushes are supported, and acam-forming templet member recipro cated simultaneously with saidbottle-lifting means and acting upon said brush-supportin levers forurging said brushes apart a variable distance to correspond with thevarying diameter of the bottle as it is passed between the brushes.

6. In a bottle washing machine having a bottle conveyor, the combinationof bottle lifting means for engaging and lifting a bottle from theconveyor, rotatable brushes between which the bottle is moved by thebottle-lifting means, swinging supports for the brushes permitting theirmovement apart, and a cam member mounted for reciprocation with saidbottle-lifting means and having cam surfaces at opposite sidesengageable .With said swinging brush supports for urgwhich the bottle ismoved by the bottle-lifting means, displaceable supports .for thebrushes permitting them to move apart, and cam means acting on saiddisplaceable supports for separating the brushes a variable distance tocorrespond with the varying diameter of the bottle as it is passedbetween the brushes.

9. In a bottle washing machine having a bottle conveyor, the combinationof means for lifting a bottle'from the conveyor, brushes between whichthe bottle is passed by the bottle-lifting means, levers by means ofwhich the brushes are supported, and a cam-forming templet memberreciprocated simultaneously with said bottle-lifting means and actingupon said brush-supporting levers for urging said brushes apart avariable distance to correspond with the varying diameter of the bottleas it is passed between the brushes.

10. In a bottle washing machine having a bottle conveyor. thecombination of bottlelifting means for engaging'and'li'fting a bottlefrom the conveyor, brushes between which the bottle is moved by thebottle-lifting means, swinging supports for the brushes permitting theirmovement apart, and a cam member mounted for reciprocation with saidbottle-lifting means and having cam I surfaces at opposite sidesengageable with said swinging brush supports for urging said brushesapart a variable distance to correspond'with the varying diameter of thebottle as it is passed between the brushes.

- 11. In a bottle washing machine, a pair of opposed brushes, means formoving a bottle axially between said brushes, the bristles of both saidbrushes being adapted to contact said bottle, and means for moving saidbrushes toward and from each other a varitures.

GEORGE J. MEYER. OTTO DREHERI varying diameter of the bottle as it ispassed between the brushes. p

8. In a bottle washing machine having a bottle conveyor, the combinationof'bottlelifting means for engaging and lifting a bottle from theconveyor, brushes between able distance corresponding substantially to

